KABUL, AFGHANISTAN – Kazakhstan has delivered 18 tons of humanitarian aid to northern Afghanistan to support victims of the recent earthquake that struck the region, causing widespread destruction and casualties, Kazakh media reported.
According to The Astana Times, the shipment, sent Thursday, includes 34 categories of relief items such as medicines, medical tools, tents, bedding, and other critical supplies. Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Health has also deployed a team of doctors to provide specialized medical support on the ground.
The earthquake, measuring 6.3 in magnitude, struck several provinces in northern Afghanistan, with Samangan and Balkh reported as the hardest-hit areas. United Nations figures indicate that at least 25 people have died, while nearly 1,000 others sustained injuries. The tremor destroyed homes and infrastructure, leaving many families without access to basic necessities such as food, water, and shelter.
This disaster occurred less than two months after another powerful earthquake in eastern Afghanistan that killed nearly 2,000 people and injured more than 4,000. The repeated natural disasters strike a country already facing one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises, with over half of the population reliant on foreign aid amid dwindling international support.
UN agencies and humanitarian organizations have warned that many survivors remain without adequate shelter or access to basic necessities, emphasizing that women and children are among the most vulnerable groups. They have urged the international community to step up support and provide urgent assistance to those affected.
